Levick Announces Plan To Step Down As Director Of Georgia State Athletics

After five years at the helm of the Georgia State University Athletics Department, Cheryl Levick announced Friday (May 30) she will step down as director of athletics on July 1 and accept a role as special assistant to Georgia State President Mark Becker.

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“I am proud of the many accomplishments that we have achieved at Georgia State and this decision did not come without a lot of thought and several good discussions with President Becker,” Levick said. “We both want what is best for the Department of Athletics and this is the right time for me to transition to the next stage in my athletics career.”

Levick noted three main reasons for the timing of her move:

Becker needs an athletic director committed to stay at Georgia State for the next five to seven years to assist in the advancement of Georgia State’s athletics program involving Georgia State’s recently announced proposal for the future of Turner Field. Levick’s contract ran through May 2017 and she did not intend to ask for a contract extension.

She also noted a desire to “teach what I have learned” within the structure of her next professional step. With more than 30 years of experience in athletics, she will now use the time as special assistant to develop a model curriculum and help train the next generation of athletics administrators.

“Because of these reasons, we have agreed that I step down now and help with the special projects while I recover,” Levick said.

“I am so proud of the tremendous growth and advancement of Georgia State Athletics over the past five years,” she said. “To start the Georgia State football program, move from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision, be accepted into the Sun Belt Conference and achieve so many historic firsts among all the sports during my tenure is very rewarding.”

Levick also noted she is committed to the continued growth and development of the Georgia State Athletics Department.

“We must keep this program moving forward at full throttle and I cannot provide that type of leadership and focus on my health, too,” Levick said. “As I have said many times, it has been an honor and privilege to serve as the director of athletics at Georgia State University.”

Levick will wrap up her duties as director of athletics through June. Before July 1, Becker will name an interim director of athletics and will start a national search for a permanent replacement immediately.

“Georgia State University has enjoyed considerable progress under Cheryl Levick’s leadership,” Becker said. “Today our NCAA athletic program is significantly stronger, including the transition to the Sun Belt Conference and Football Bowl Subdivision, and it is positioned for an even brighter future. We are grateful to Cheryl for all that she has accomplished, and we wish her all the best as she prepares for the next chapter in her career.”

Georgia State has won five Sun Belt Conference championships since entering the league in 2012. Georgia State student-athletes have been successful in the classroom under Levick’s leadership, earning at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the past 12 consecutive semesters, and have the highest Graduation Success Rate in the Sun Belt Conference. The Panthers also have completed a minimum of 5,000 community service hours around Atlanta for four straight years.